Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Initiatives to tackle anaemia in Women and Children
Under National Deworming Day  programme, Union Health Ministry organizes biannual mass deworming for children and adolescents in age group 1-19 years, on 10th February and 10th August every year
In 2018, the Government of India launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharat  strategy to reduce prevalence of anaemia in women, children and adolescents through life cycle approach. The 6X6X6 strategy aims to reduce anaemia among six beneficiaries age groups through implementation of six interventions and six institutional mechanisms. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir is implementing Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy as per GOI guidelines.
In the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, all Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition  services are provided across all the districts. Further, two aspirational districts  are identified under the Aspirational District programme to prioritize the reproductive health of women and children, including anaemia.
The steps taken by Government including the age specific interventions for reduction in anaemia among women and children across the country are provided at Annexure I.
- Periodic deworming
- MoHFW is implementing National Deworming Day  programme under which biannual mass deworming for children and adolescents in age group 1-19 years is carried on designated dates – 10th February and 10th August every year
- Pregnant women are provided services under the strategy through antenatal care contacts  for deworming 
- Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication  Campaign for compliance to IFA and deworming; Appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding ; Increase intake of iron-rich, protein-rich and vitamin C-rich foods; dietary diversification
- Testing and Treatment of anemia using digital methods  in field settings, Sub Health Centres, Health and Wellness Centres; and Semi-auto analyzer in health facilities PHC and above; and point of care treatment. Anaemia Management protocols to be followed are mentioned in Operational Guidelines for Anaemia Mukt Bharat
- Management of severe anaemia in pregnant women by administration of IV Iron Sucrose/ Blood transfusion
- Providing incentives to ASHA for identification and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies including severe anaemia in pregnant women
- Provision of IFA fortified food in government funded public health programmes
- Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis
- Strengthening supply chain management of Iron and Folic Acid supplements
- Convergence and coordination with other line departments and ministries for strengthening implementation
- National Centre of Excellence and Advanced Research on Anaemia Control  at AIIMS, Delhi engaged in capacity building of health care providers and development of training toolkit.
Annexure I
Steps taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for reduction in anaemia among women and children across the country
- Prophylactic Iron Folic Acid Supplementation to all six beneficiaries age group
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Age group
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Dose and Regime for IFA supplementation
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6 – 59 months
of age
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- Biweekly, 1 ml Iron and Folic Acid syrup
- Each ml of Iron and Folic Acid syrup containing 20 mg elemental Iron + 100 mcg of Folic Acid
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5- 10 years
children
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- Weekly, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet
- Each tablet containing 45 mg elemental Iron + 400 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, pink colour
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School going adolescent
girls and boys,
10-19 years of age and
Out of school adolescent girls 10-19 years age
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- Weekly, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet
- Each tablet containing 60 mg elemental iron + 500 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, blue colour
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Women of
reproductive age
(non-pregnant,
non-lactating)
20-49 years
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- Weekly, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet
- Each tablet containing 60 mg elemental Iron + 500 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, red colour
- All women in the reproductive age group in the pre-conception period and upto the first trimester of the pregnancy are advised to have 400 mcg of Folic Acid tablets, daily
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Pregnant women and
lactating mothers

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- Daily, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet starting from the fourth month of pregnancy , continued throughout pregnancy  and to be continued for 180 days, post-partum
- Each tablet containing 60 mg elemental Iron + 500 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, red colour
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.